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OMG! InterActiveCorp buys teen fashion site

Sprawling new-media conglomerate InterActiveCorp on Tuesday announced that it has acquired StarNet Interactive, an Israel-based company that operates GirlSense, a social site for teen girls. More specifically, GirlSense describes itself as "online dress-up games for girls with fashion sense."

Terms of the deal, which is part of IAC's Consumer Applications and Portals division, were not disclosed.

Other teen-oriented properties in IAC's arsenal, with which GirlSense will likely be intertwined, include virtual world Zwinky and profile customization site Webfetti. GirlSense counts its registered users at 13 million.

"Part of our growth strategy includes acquisition of products … Read more

WiiWare and Virtual Console releases for this week

This week WiiWare gets two new additions, while the Virtual Console gets a classic scrolling shooter. Virtual Console

SkyKid (1985, NES, 500 Wii points): SkyKid is a horizontal scrolling shooter that has you battling in the skies in order to save Bird Land--yes that's what it's called. Grab the bombs on each level and drop them on various targets to advance.

WiiWare

Critter Round-Up (Konami, 1,000 Wii points): All the animals have escaped and it's up to you to get them back. The puzzle game includes more than 50 levels with various environments. Star Soldier R (… Read more

EchoStar unveils SlingModem, hints at future cable products

EchoStar will be officially unveiling the SlingModem at next week's Cable Show trade event in New Orleans. As the name suggests, the product combines a standard DOCSIS cable modem and a Slingbox media placeshifter--which transmits live TV broadcasts to Windows PCs, Macs, and a variety of smartphones--in one compact housing. If it sounds familiar, it's because the product was soft-launched at January's Consumer Electronics Show (following several online appearances at various enthusiast sites). The SlingModem will be sold directly to cable providers, who will then sell or lease the product to their customers. Exact price and availability weren't disclosed.

Having the SlingModem in the AV rack would be potentially helpful for the increasing number of consumers using network-capable devices for home entertainment (TiVo, Apple TV, and all three game consoles, for instance).… Read more

Review: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ

With the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ, Chevrolet makes its strongest bid yet to unseat the Toyota Camry as America's most popular car. For cabin quality, the Malibu LTZ equals the Camry and even the Honda Accord. The Malibu features the most modern powertrain we've yet seen from Chevrolet, although the handling feels wobbly, especially at freeway speeds. The head unit in the Malibu LTZ is GM-standard, it has a decent interface for playing MP3 CDs and a standard auxiliary input. The cabin electronics are rounded out with OnStar's various services, including hands-free-calling and turn-by-turn directions.

Read the review. … Read more

Where Jimmy Fallon will never host
The 404...he's not talented enough

EPISODE 97

Today we talk about the infamous $30 a month Sprint SERO plan, the 3G iPhone, and the new BlackBerry Bold. Also, we gladly watch as Speed Racer crashes at the box office and cry as Jimmy Fallon gets the late night love he doesn't deserve. Plus, we pimp Legends, Myths and Hieroglyphs, a brand new play by one of our favorite guests, Demetrius Wren.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

After 'American Idol,' there's always 'SingStar'

Considering how unfortunately popular karaoke remains here, it's surprising that it has taken so long for this music game to arrive on U.S. shores. But Singstar is finally getting a stateside launch for the PlayStation 3 on May 20, according to I4U News.

The game, which is already on the European market, comes with 30 songs loaded on its disc but also allows hundreds more to be purchased and downloaded from the "SingStore," which will be expanded by 25-30 songs each month. Each tune, which goes for $1.49, comes with a video of the artist.… Read more

Bluetooth implants: Why not?

Question: How did the Borg--the not-so-lovable cyborgs in Star Trek--get to be that way?

Answer: it all started with Bluetooth headsets.

I see more and more people walking around with Bluetooth headsets lodged behind their ears every day. Most states are passing hands-free laws for drivers. Even my technophobe wife wants one.

I could be wrong, but I think it's only a matter of time before some enterprising startup comes up with an implantable device.… Read more

OnStar stops us from stealing its car

Our short life of crime ended abruptly as we tried to speed away in an OnStar-equipped Chevy Tahoe. The gas pedal went loose, the engine slowed to an idle, and we rolled to a stop. Fortunately, police didn't pounce on us as we stepped out of the car, we were merely greeted by OnStar representatives who wanted us to see how the system worked. We experienced this new OnStar service, called Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, in the parking lot of Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., at a special demonstration. With the service, OnStar can cut engine power to a vehicle. … Read more

Now we can prove that Bones was full of it

This replica of the Star Trek "Medical Tricorder" makes it clear why they rarely showed a close-up of Bones' device on the original series: It looks like something cobbled together in the garage of that neighbor who's still trying to get his old CB radio to work.

It's interesting to note how a supposed 23rd century device created in 1966 could look like something made in 1967. (Is that foresight-hindsight?) Anyway, if you want one of these collectable novelties, GeekAlerts says it can be had for just $40 in October, complete with removable scanner. That's … Read more